Saigon beaches: Which coast is worth the trip from Ho Chi Minh City
Central Saigon does not have a beach that you can reach with a short city transfer. A coastal trip is possible, but whether it is worth the journey depends on how many days you have and whether you want an urban beach, a quiet resort or a separate island stay.
Does Saigon have beaches?
Central Saigon has no conventional beach, although the wider administrative picture changed in 2025. Ho Chi Minh City expanded to include the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau area, so places such as Vung Tau and Ho Tram are now within the larger municipality even though they remain a substantial journey from the historic center.
In everyday travel planning, "Saigon" usually means the central urban districts around the Saigon River. From there, you still need to set aside meaningful travel time to reach the coast.
Can Gio is also part of Ho Chi Minh City, about 50 km out, but it is better known for mangroves than for a classic resort beach. There is one road in: Huynh Tan Phat to the Binh Khanh ferry, then about 36 km of Rung Sac road through the mangrove biosphere reserve, 1.5 to 2 hours in total and longer at weekends when the ferry queue builds. For swimming and time on the sand, Vung Tau, Long Hai or Ho Tram usually make more sense.
The reserve is not a small thing: 75,740 hectares of replanted mangrove, and in 2000 it became the first site in Vietnam that UNESCO recognised as a biosphere reserve. The monkeys in the island section are used to people and will take anything loose, so close your bag before you get out of the car.
How do the main Saigon beach options compare?
The best option depends less on which beach is "number one" and more on what kind of day you want. Distances below are from District 1 and assume the expressway route.
Destination | Best for | Travel commitment from central Saigon | Suggested stay | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Can Gio | Mangroves, local seafood and a coastal change of scene | About 50 km, 1.5 to 2 hours including the Binh Khanh ferry | Day trip | Better for nature and local atmosphere than a resort-style beach day |
Vung Tau | An easy-to-understand urban beach break | About 70 minutes by expressway, or 2 hours by fast ferry | Full day or one night | More restaurants and city facilities, but weekends can feel busy |
Long Hai | A quieter coastal stop | Roughly 30 minutes past Vung Tau on the coast road | One night | Suits travelers who prefer a slower setting and fewer city distractions |
Ho Tram | Resort time and a quieter stretch of coast | Same expressway as Vung Tau, then the coast road | 1 or 2 nights | Works best when the resort is part of the plan, not just a quick swim |
Mui Ne | Coast, sand dunes and wind-based activities | About 200 km, 3 to 4 hours door to door | At least one night | Better treated as a separate stop in southern Vietnam |
Phu Quoc | A fuller island holiday | About a 1-hour domestic flight | Several nights | Best added as its own destination rather than a day trip from Saigon |
Vung Tau for a straightforward beach break
Vung Tau is the most practical choice for travelers who want a beach town with places to eat and a waterfront atmosphere. Back Beach is the broad, active side of the peninsula, while Front Beach is closer to the town center and harbor views.
The town also gives you something to do once you have had enough sun. The Christ the King statue on Nui Nho, the smaller of the 2 hills, is 32 metres tall, about 36 with the pedestal, with an arm span of 18.4 metres. It was started in March 1974 and not inaugurated until November 1994. Reaching it is roughly 800 steps up the hill, then 133 more inside the statue to the platform at the arms. Open 07:00 to 17:00, free. Go early or late, because the steps are exposed the whole way and there is nowhere shaded to wait.
Round the headland, the lighthouse is the older landmark: built by the French in 1862, the oldest of Vietnam's lighthouses, about 18 metres with 55 spiral steps to the top, open 07:30 to 22:00. The ride up to it is half the reason to go. Between the 2, Nghinh Phong cape is where the coast road turns and the wind hits you straight on, which is exactly what the name means.
The drive changed in 2026. The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway opened along its full length on 18 May 2026, and the run from central Ho Chi Minh City to the coast is now around 70 minutes rather than the half-day it used to be. The alternative is the Greenlines DP fast ferry from Bach Dang pier in District 1 to Ho May port in Vung Tau: about 2 hours, 4 to 6 sailings a day, from around 320,000 VND (about USD 12) one way. The ferry is slower than the expressway but it removes the traffic question entirely, and the approach to the peninsula from the water is the better arrival.
Long Hai and Ho Tram for a quieter stay
Long Hai and Ho Tram suit travelers who want less urban activity. Long Hai feels more like a local coastal town, while Ho Tram is more closely associated with resorts.
Both sit past Vung Tau on the same expressway, then the coast road. A dedicated expressway from Long Thanh airport to Ho Tram broke ground on 1 July 2026 and is scheduled for 2026 to 2029, so for now the coast road is the route. Their advantage is the slower pace: choose them when you can stay overnight, or when the accommodation is the point.
Mui Ne for an overnight coastal stop
Mui Ne is about 200 km from central Ho Chi Minh City by the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressway, which works out at 3 to 4 hours door to door. The 142 km of expressway in the middle of that is the fast part; the city section at one end and the run out to the Mui Ne strip at the other are what stretch it. That makes a day trip a poor idea even before you get there: the dunes are best at either end of the day, so stay overnight if you want the coast plus sand dunes or wind sports.
If you have only 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City, keep Mui Ne for another trip. Saigon itself still needs the time.
Is a beach trip worth it during a short HCMC stay?
A beach trip is usually worth considering when you have at least 3 days in the area or want one quiet night away from the city. With only one or two days, central attractions, street food and one historical day trip normally produce a more balanced first visit.
Your situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
One day in HCMC | Stay in central Saigon and follow a compact city route |
2 days in HCMC | Combine the city center with Cu Chi or another focused experience |
3 or more days | Consider Vung Tau, Long Hai or Ho Tram if the coast matters to you |
Beach is the main priority | Add several nights in Phu Quoc or another dedicated beach destination |
You mainly want nature | Consider Can Gio rather than treating the outing as a swimming day |
Should you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc?
Phu Quoc makes sense as a separate island stay. A domestic flight is usually the most practical connection from Ho Chi Minh City, while land-and-ferry travel suits travelers already moving through the Mekong Delta.
The island is large enough that the north, central west coast and south feel like different trips. Resort location, season and sea conditions all affect the experience, so do not choose a hotel from a beach photo alone. Our Phu Quoc Island Travel Guide explains how the main areas differ and what to consider before booking.
Allow several nights for both beach time and island activities. A rushed overnight adds transfers without giving you time to settle in. If you would rather have the island arranged around you, the 4-day Phu Quoc Highlights package covers Sunset Town, the Hon Thom cable car and Grand World in one loop, and the 4 Islands speedboat tour is the day on the water, with snorkeling at Xuong, Buom and Gam Ghi.
Plan your coastal trip from Saigon
If you are weighing a beach day against city history or a river day trip, browse Meetup Travel's Ho Chi Minh City travel guide and tour options and pick the experiences that fit your days first, then build the transfers around them.
Travel times, distances, Vung Tau landmark details, Can Gio reserve figures and ferry fares checked 14 September 2026, with the Mui Ne distance rechecked 15 September 2026 against Vietnamese press reports on the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau and Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressways and Greenlines DP listings. Dong amounts convert at about 26,100 VND to the US dollar. Road and ferry schedules are reviewed periodically.